How I choose books for my 5 year old?

Selecting a right book is the key to discover the fun of reading. I read somewhere "A book is unlimited investment in human mind and spirit." That is why the selection of books should be done with peaceful and relaxed mind.

My 5 year old is in her language development phase that is why I feel this is good time to add varieties of books in her book shelf.

Some of the benefits of reading aloud with you little one are:

• This is a fun activity which I and my daughter enjoy together.
• It builds listening skills in her.
• It improves concentration,
• She now express herself more.
• She is really curious which generate lots of questions in her mind.
• She started putting logic in various scenarios of day to day life.
• She also starts making her own stories and songs.
• The more you read to your child, more they get exposure to the new words. That is how their vocabulary also get increase.

Lets come back to the topic, how I select a book for her:

Illustrations are the main attractions to her. I always get her book which has bright colors, big pictures which she can easily relate to the ongoing story.

Informative books which take a particular topic like astronomy, weather, animal etc. and teach kids the concept of the topic  by rhymes or stories with fun texts or activities.

Take books which have lots of rhyming and repetitive texts because they are easy to memorize and read.

Read few lines from the book or narrate summary of the story and ask her if she is interested to add the book in her book collection.

Some books which are recommended by her friends mother or teacher.

The last but not the least, the book needs not to be a award winning or bestseller in the shop. Choose a book which you and your child will enjoy together.

What is in my bag (with toddler)?

On short trips, I don't carry much in my handbag- just one diaper, wet wipes, waterbottle, one box of raisins, my wallet, keys and mobile. so that I doesn't have to deep dig into my handbag at store's bill counters to embarrass myself and make people wait behind me. 

But for long trips, I've been carrying this Lavie big peach bag in which I can organize the things neatly.

It have big compartment, and the compartment do have small pockets inside it.

See how I fill it up while travelling

The big compartment is enough for my and my daughter's essentials. I love that this purse holds its shape, steady, doesn't fall over and has enough room to actually organize things within smaller bags inside. Sometimes it weighs so much that I get a workout from carrying it! :)

The random items in my purse vary on daily basis, but often I carry:

• Some snacks, which she love to munch.
• Water bottle: I always carry a water bottle with me no matter where we go. 
• A comb/hairbrush
• Wet tissues
• Dry Tissues
• Diaper: Although she is not on diaper any more, this one is for in case of emergency.
• Disposable diaper bags 
• Moisturiser
• Bandaid
• Crocin
• A fresh pair of clothes
• Handkerchief
• Some Cosmetics: For me ofcourse ;)
• Notebook and Pen: She loves to scribble and she can do this for hours, of course depend on her  mood.
• Wallet
• Hair Pins
• Vaseline/Boroline
• Hand Towel
• Some extra Cash

So, that’s a sneak peak inside my handbag. 

I don’t carry everything here with me everyday but this is everything I would take if I was heading out for the entire day.